Star of David adopted for calendar
Board changes course after backlash over leaked email about menorah as symbol of Judaism
Confusion and public outcry following a leaked email posted on social media has prompted the York Region District School Board to apologize and adopt the Star of David as the symbol of Judaism on its multifaith calendar.
The uproar at the York board came after an internal email by a senior board official was shared online, explaining the rationale for using the menorah as the symbol for Jewish holidays and observances on the calendar — instead of the Star of David, which was described as a “political” symbol.
The official explains in an email sent Tuesday that the group responsible for creating the calendar — a non-profit organization called the Multifaith Action Society — “consulted with various faith leaders to determine appropriate symbols for different religions.”
“For Judaism, the menorah was chosen over the Star of David due to its purely religious significance, while the Star of David carries political connotations with the state of Israel,” she wrote in an email to a trustee and superintendent. “This decision aligns with our commitment to interfaith dialogue and avoids political associations in the multi-faith calendar.”
It’s unclear what prompted the email. But it seems to have been in response to a question from the trustee and superintendent about why the menorah, instead of the Star of David, is used to represent Judaism in the calendar.
After the email was posted Wednesday on X, outrage quickly followed. Many assumed the board had decided to stop using the Star of David as a symbol of Judaism and called the move antisemitic, and were upset that it was called political.
The backlash came amid heightened sensitivity toward religious and cultural symbols given the Israel-Hamas war. Just this week the city of Ottawa cancelled a public ceremony where the Israeli flag was to be raised, citing security concerns.
The board changed course Thursday. Following a flurry of angry emails and phone calls, as well as a discussion between the board’s director with Education Minister Stephen Lecce, the YRDSB issued a statement Thursday morning after consulting Jewish groups.
Director of education Bill Cober clarified that the menorah has been used in the calendar “for several years and no change was made this year.”
“However, as a result of feedback received regarding the existing symbolism, we will be making changes to the Board’s online calendar to ensure it is representative of Jewish identity,” wrote Cober. “We regret any hurt or harm caused by this matter and the content of an email being circulated online; we are taking immediate action to make the correction.”
Lecce told reporters at Queen’s Park on Thursday, “We’re pleased to see that this has been rectified.” He added that he was with both the board’s director and chair at an event in Vaughan “and I reiterated my expectations that we are respectful of the diversity of our province and we allow students to exist in their own skin.”
He said “we want people of all faiths to be able to be proud of who they are … (it’s) a serious issue and it impacts communities and their sense of belonging.”
However, he added, “I want our schools to go back to basics and focus on academics. That would really be in the best interest of every child regardless of their faith or creed or heritage.”
Several Jewish organizations applauded the board’s move to update the calendar with the Star of David.
The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center — one of Canada’s leading human rights and social advocacy organizations dedicated to Holocaust education — said that after learning about the email, it contacted senior board officials “to explain how outrageous it is to suggest the Star of David is a political symbol and how such a decision causes harm to the Jewish community,” particularly in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.
In a statement posted online, it noted that for centuries, the Star of David has been the most widely recognized symbol of Judaism.
“Amid the current surge in antisemitism in this country, we are seeing aspects of Jewish identity, including the Star of David, attacked and demonized and increasing attempts to misconstrue it as political or even illegitimate,” said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, senior director of policy and advocacy.
“We are grateful to the YRDSB for acting quickly on our concerns and recognizing the harm caused to the Jewish community.”
The Star contacted the Multifaith Action Society for comment, but did not hear back before publication.
According to its website, the group is dedicated to facilitating interfaith education and dialogue. It describes the multifaith calendar as “a thoroughly researched compendium of nearly 500 spiritual events and observances from 14 of the world’s leading religions.”
York Region
District School Board director of education Bill Cober clarified that the menorah has been used in the calendar ‘for several years and no change was made this year’